According to the United Nations, around two-thirds of the world’s population will live in urban areas by 2050.
The focus on Smart Sustainable Cities has given rise to an ecosystem of municipal leaders, planners, sustainability directors, entrepreneurs, technologists, funders and advocates. What is often missing is a centralized facilitation platform to bring together these architects of the sustainable future.
United Smart Cities, a global Smart Cities program implemented by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the Organization for International Economic Relations (OiER), opened the first Smart City LAB together with BRAINTRIBE - the Smart Data experts - in Vienna to offer the needed platform to various stakeholders.
Cities are the hubs of the future and need individual integrated solutions to solve their challenges. The Smart City LAB enables the development and showcasing of these solutions. - Kari Eik, Secretary General, OiER -Organization for International Economic Relations
The aim of the LAB is to develop and implement urban sustainability projects in cities in the areas of education, health, infrastructure, mobility, energy, IOT, etc.
In the near future, international companies, startups, cities and UN experts will work on smart city solutions in the Smart City LAB to accelerate new projects.
I am very glad that companies are actively involved in shaping the future of cities and implementing projects within the United Smart Cities LAB. Private Sector engagement to the 2030 agenda is of top priority of UNECE - Olga Algayerova Executive General, UNECE
The LAB was opened on May 22nd by Olga Algayerova, Executive Secretary of UNECE, together with Ivonne Higuero, Director Economic Cooperation and Trade Division, UNECE, Kari Aina Eik, Secretary General, OiER and Stefan Ebner, CEO and Founder, BRAINTRIBE.
CEOs of Austrian and international companies, startups, city representatives of London, Bristol, Helsinki as well as Smart City experts attended in order to see the upcoming innovative activities.
Already on the opening day of the Smart City LAB, in the Firestarters Space in the 7th district of Vienna, more than 25 solutions were presented, amongst others smart energy system, developed by Twingz, an Austrian startup - positive effects on the energy balance are the focus of this development. DigitalGlobe, a US company specializing in satellite data presented future city models. Even the founders of Pluvi.on, a Brazilian startup from the favelas of Sao Paulo, were able to present their solution for floods in cities to the international audience.
"In terms of the wordings, the activities should be" co-creation "and not co-working, as the LAB works together on specific topics and creates a community that pushes each other." says Stefan Ebner - CEO BRAINTRIBE.
The first USC LAB in Vienna only gives a first idea of what is about to come. Acting as a role model, the concept of this innovative United Smart City LAB will be brought to other cities worldwide, establishing a global network enhancing the development of the cities of the future.
The solutions jointly developed in the LAB will be made available to the global community of Smart Cities through a digital platform - Co-Create Locally, Share Globally!
The UN Smart Cities is open and eager to collaborate with all who want to contribute to the future of sustainability in cities, please contact lukas.ertl@unitedsmartcities.org
